Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-12
LITERARY SUCCESS.
The Ways by Which Some Noted Writers
HaNc Nccnmn Iamons.


Every literary success has its own his
tory. Thorcau's beautiful books are
found in every library where he would
have cared 10 have them; but they were
so little appreciated when originally is
sued that at the end Of the first year al
most the whole edition was returned TO
the author who carried the books labor-
ously upstairs with the laughing an
nounccment that he was probably the only
man III America with n library of 900
volumes all written by himself Rider
Haggard thinks he viii try the doubtful
experiment of weaving his African expert
ence into n book for boys, and thousands
of copies, perhaps hundreds Of thousands
or king SolOmons Mines are sold inn
mediately, quite as much TO his own sur
prise as that of anybody else Bayard
Taylor, thirsting for the literary life,
eager for fame, but only for the fame
that comes from doing really admirable
work, labors slowly, toilsomcly, carefully,
and achieves ut last an cnviable position
for graceful, scholarly, patient literary
effort. Sidney Luska leaps into the liter
airy arena with his first book in his hand,
so brilliant Il one that the critics only
wonder whether he can ever do anything
else as good. Miss Alcott is inspired to
write Little Women.n because, as she
naively says herself, "the house needed
shingling." Miss Murfree and Mrs. Bur
nett for years write short stories in OBJ
scure publications, unknown, unnoticed
and unpraised till the long training and
patient perseverance "telln at last,
and result finally in splendid
effort that the admiring world sup
poses TO be their first. H. H., n brilliant
society foff f,,+.
in literature, already in middle age. writes
suddenly poem, is perfectly amazed on
receiving so for it, pays herself for the
publication Of her first book. only 10 find
herself in few years acknowledged as
the finest poetess in America, if indeed,
as Mr.. Emerson said, we may not leave
on the last syllable of ''poctess." Char
lotte Brontc, with profound confidence in
her own genius, encouraged by no one,
discouraged by every. publisher till the
last, writes Jane Eyre, " 10 be one Of the
greatest novels Of her generation. George
Eliot, profoundly self distrustful, ventur-
ing into fiction only at the urgent entroaty
OF Mr.. LeWes, writes adam Bedc 10
be the admiration Of the world and per
haps never did any work finer Of its kind
than her first. Harriet Prescott Spofford.
q girl of 1G VINO had never been out of
America and hardly out Of Newburyport,
sits in her little room, with portfolio in her
lap, and evolves from her inner conscious
ness and knowledge of books n story Of
Partisan life, so faithful 10 the local color
Of the brilliant city Of the world that the
editor of The Atlantic sends it back TO her
NJ irst on the plea. that it is singularly
line, but presumably a translation.
When book appears so perfect Of its
IN o- D..
skates, the world is interested not
merely in reading the book. but in know
ne how il came 10 be written. It may be
stated briefly that Hans Brinker" was
almost the first literary effort. though not
actually the first, Of its author; that at
he time she wrote it She had never been i
n Holland at all; that like her dear and
intimate friend II. H., she had passed her =
.irlhood and early womanhood without {
hought or a desire for literary fame {
New York Mail and Express. G